The Lord's dealings with His people were a frequent subject of meditation

Posted : 4 Apr, 2013 04:59 PM

Psalm 119:52 I remembered Your judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself.





The Lord's dealings with His people were a frequent subject of

meditation to the Psalmist, and now were they his present

support under "the scourge of the tongue." Evidently they are

put upon record for the encouragement of future generations.

We are ready to imagine something peculiar in our own case,

and to "think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try

us, as though some strange thing happened unto us." But

when we remember the Lord's judgments of old, with His

people, we comfort ourselves in the assurance, that "the same

afflictions are accomplished in our brethren, that have been in

the world;" and that "as the sufferings of Christ have

abounded in them, so their consolation also abounded by

Christ." They also encountered the same derision of the

proud, and always experienced the same support from the

faithfulness of their God. We do not sufficiently consider the

mercy and gracious wisdom of God, in occupying so much of

His written word with the records of His judgments of old. One

class will pay a prominent attention to the preceptive, another

to the doctrinal, parts of revelation-each forgetting that the

historical records comprise a full and striking illustration of

both, and have always proved most supporting grounds of

consolation to the Lord's people. The important design in

casting so large a portion of the small volume of Revelation

into an historical form, is every way worthy of its author.

"Whatever things were written before, were written for our

learning; that we through patience and comfort of the

Scriptures might have hope;" and how admirably adapted the

means are to the end, the diligent student in the Scripture field

will bear ample witness. Wilfully, therefore, to neglect the historical portion of the sacred volume, from the idea of

confining our attention to what we deem the more spiritual

parts of scripture-would show a sad deficiency of spiritual

apprehension, and deprive ourselves of the most valuable

instruction, and most abundant comfort. This neglect would

exclude us from one eminent means of increasing "patience,"

in the example of those "who through faith and patience

inherit the promises;" of receiving "comfort," in the experience

of the faithfulness of God manifested in every age to His

people: and of enlivening our "hope," in marking the happy

issue of the "patience of the saints," and the heavenly support

administered unto them. So far, therefore, are we from being

little interested in the Scriptural records of past ages, that it is

evident that the sacred historians, as well as the prophets,

"ministered not unto themselves, but unto us the things which

are now reported."

Let us select one or two instances as illustrative of this

subject. Why were the records of the deluge, and of the

overthrow of the cities of the plain, preserved, but as

exhibitions to the church, that "the Lord"-the Savior of Noah,

the eighth person, and the deliverer of just Lot-"knows how to

deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust

unto the day of judgment to be punished?" What a source of

comfort then to the tempted people of God is the

remembrance of these judgments of old! Take again the

wonderful history of the overthrow of the Egyptians, and the

consequent deliverance of God's ancient people. How often

does the church recollect this interposition as a ground of

assurance, that under similar circumstances of trial, the same

illustrious displays of Divine faithfulness and love may be

confidently expected! She looks back upon what the "arm of

the Lord has done in ancient days, and in the generation of

old," as the pattern of what He ever would be, and ever would

do, for His purchased people. Thus also God Himself recalls

to our mind this overthrow and deliverance as a ground of present encouragement and support-"According to the days of

your coming out of the land of Egypt will I show unto him

marvelous things"-and the Church echoes back this

remembrance in the expression of her faith, gratitude, and

expectation for spiritual blessings: "He will subdue our

iniquities, and You will cast all their sins into the depths of the

sea." Such is the interesting use that may be made of the

historical parts of Scripture! Such is the comfort to be derived

from the remembrance of the Lord's judgments of old! And is

not the recollection of His judgments of old with ourselves,

productive of the same support? Does not the retrospect of

His dealings with our own souls serve to convince us, that "all

His paths are mercy and truth?" The assurance is therefore

warranted alike by experience and by Scripture- "We know

that all things work together for good to them that love God, to

them who are the called according to His purpose."



by

Charles Bridges

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